at least phrase
1. not less than a particular amount or number, and possibly more
Mr Gray will remain the director for three years at least.
The disease killed at least 120 people in England last year.
We are expecting to at least double our money.
at the very least (=not less than and probably much more than): The journey will take a year, at the very least.
Thesaurus: too much, extra and moresynonym
2. even if nothing else happens or is true
At least no one can accuse me of hiding the truth.
You might at least have waited for me.
We have reached an agreement that at least gives the company a chance to survive.
at the very least: At the very least the player is guilty of violent behaviour.
Thesaurus: true, definite and based on factssynonym
3. used when mentioning an advantage that exists in spite of the problem or disadvantage that you have just mentioned
A two per cent pay rise is not very much, but at least it’s better than nothing.
You lost, but at least you can say you tried.
The work is difficult, but at least the pay is good.
Thesaurus: despite somethingsynonym
4. used when you are saying something that changes or limits what you have just said
The election will mean the end, or at least the beginning of the end, of the present system.
No one saw anything, or at least they’re not talking about it if they did.
Thesaurus: ways of adding extra informationsynonym
后两种不适合换成at the very least。可以看出,这两种涉及某种对比。